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Man allegedly tries to set girlfriend on fire near homeless camp

September 7, 2026

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies on Friday morning arrested a man who allegedly tried to set his girlfriend on fire near a homeless encampment in the Montecito area.

On Thursday, shortly after 8:15 p.m., deputies responded to the area near Highway 101 and the Sheffield Drive onramp after a 911 caller reported that a woman was being threatened and that an attempt had been made to set her on fire, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

When deputies contacted the woman, they learned that she had been at a nearby encampment with her boyfriend, 47-year-old man Jason Tucker. While the couple was arguing, Tucker allegedly swung a large wooden stake at his girlfriend’s head as he was threatening her.

The woman fled the encampment and called 911. Tucker allegedly followed her and threatened to kill her before law enforcement arrived. He reportedly poured Tiki torch lighter fluid on her, causing the woman to fear for her life.

Responders provided medical attention to the victim at the scene.

Deputies, along with CHP officers and California State Parks personnel, conducted an extensive search of the steep and rugged terrain surrounding Ortega Hill. Initially, they were unable to locate Tucker. 

Shortly after 3 a.m. Friday, deputies returned to the encampment and found Tucker. The suspect surrendered and was arrested without further incident.

Deputies booked Tucker in the Santa Barbara County Main Jail on felony charges including assault with a deadly weapon, assault with caustic chemicals or flammable substances, criminal threats, and intimidating or attempting to prevent a victim or witness from reporting a crime. Tucker was being held with his bail set at $100,000.

 


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9 Comments

Our best and brightest strike again.lighting each other on fire along with a few hundred acres every few weeks.


-2

Insane that paso city hall and council wants to build tiny homes for these psychos at the train station downtown


5

Been around Black Oak Drive lately? In the years since Motel 6 was bought with grant money for a shelter, the whole area has become skid row. Every time a shelter goes online, a whole ecosystem of hangers-on who can’t or won’t qualify for admission springs up in the area. The AM/PM has seriously gone downhill. Carl’s will be out of business soon for sure. The pavement looks like a moonscape.


-2

It is great that the lady interviewed on the news, who moved to town six months ago, and through our social programs found a job and housing. That was a great publicity story for the surrounding areas to key in on. More success stories and much more liabilities. This is why we spend hundreds of millions of our budget to accommodate this growing need. Certainly, you don’t believe that you are only paying for the fuel at the pumps? Think about that too.


-8

The homeless have a RIGHT to free housing in Montecito.


-1

Under a bridge.


3

Lovely. Time to find permanent mental hospitals for all the “un-housed”. They don’t belong on our streets. And don’t blame President Reagan. That was a half century ago. Who’s been in charge since then?


32

Half the people blaming Reagan weren’t even born then and are just parroting leftist talking points. The people agitating for “increased mental services” are the same people who voted to decriminalize narcotics. A government solution they created at the ballot box…how convenient.


-1

Clearly post partum psychosis.


-3